Southern California -- this just in

L.A. man arrested a second time on suspicion of sexual assault, impersonation of police officer

June 17, 2011 | 9:33
pm

A 29-year-old Los Angeles man was being held on $1-million bail Friday after his second arrest in less than a month on suspicion of sexually assaulting women while impersonating a law enforcement officer, authorities said.

Pedram Mehrian was being held by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after being arrested Wednesday on a rape charge in connection with an incident last month in Rosemead.

Mehrian previously had been arrested June 2 by Los Angeles police in a similar alleged sexual assault of a woman in West Los Angeles.

In that case, the victim said the suspect had responded to an Internet ad for an escort. She said that she met with him and that he identified himself as a police detective, handcuffed her and sexually assaulted her, according to police.

Mehrian posted bail in that case and was released, facing a July 1 hearing.

Detectives are also investigating a third similar assault, in May in West Los Angeles.